visits

In the week that straddled the Halloween weekend, we hosted some family. First, Cori's sister, Tiffany and her husband, Brett came for a couple of days. It was fun to catch up and have them to ourselves for a bit. I didn't take so much as one picture- drat! Looking forward to rectifying that when they move to Phoenix in a few weeks. Then, Cori's brother, Ethan, his wife and baby Megan and Joshua stayed for a few days.

We got out and about a bit more while they were here. One afternoon, Grace had a half day and Megan and I loaded up all the babes to venture down to the Chinese Cultural Center. Megs ordered us up a yummy dim sum lunch. I was glad she was there to do the ordering. It is always more fun to try something new with someone who speaks the language!

We wandered around the gardens and did some shopping in the supermarket there. Megan made us a fantastic dinner the next night.

Having Megan and Ethan around had innumerable perks. They spent lots of time playing with the kids. Ethan was itching to do some yard work. Cori enlisted his aide in raking down the bermuda grass in preparation for over seeding. They did a great job, and it was decided that we will definitely rent a power raker next year. Another incomparable service Ethan provided was that he made Eden so very happy. He looks, walks, and sounds very much like Cori and Eden is never happier than when she is with her dad. Ethan made her smiley every minute.

On our last afternoon with them, we spent the day at the Arizona Science Center. 

There is an English pub on the museum campus where we dined on shepherds pie and fish and chips. 

Thanks L*s! We are so glad you spent some of that precious vacation time with us!

blessings

I have so much to catch up on. Have to start somewhere. We have had weeks and weekends with visits from family and old friends. We spent an evening at the State Fair. I've started a training schedule for the half marathon Sara and I will run in January. And I joined another boot camp. In an effort to bring some balance to my life, I am determined to document a little this week! But we are grateful to be anxiously engaged. Lately I've been so in love with my mommy/wifey life. I am especially grateful for these mental snapshots:

• Grace sharing her testimony for the first time in sacrament meeting a couple weeks ago. She started asking about doing it last month and so we had a family home evening centered on the event. That fast Sunday morning Grace was all smiles. We sat in church and she asked me over and over when it was her turn to go up. As soon as the mic was turned over to the congregation Grace walked straight up. She began "My name is Grace L* for anyone who doesn't know me. You might know my parents, or my brother, Grant..." She then proceeded share very sincere and unrehearsed feelings about her Savior. It was hard to not to laugh and cry. Sweet girl.
• Grant singing nearly every word of nearly every song in the primary program. We had no idea that he knew the songs so well, nor that he would be so happy singing them whilst seated in the front row. 
• Eden's current fascination with sitting on things. She spots her target (someone's lap, a pillow on the floor, a random piece of paper, toys of all shapes and uncomfortable sizes) and backs up to it until she senses she is in position. Then she lowers herself. Most of the time she makes it. Even she gets a kick when she misses.
• Cori's smiling face when I came home yesterday night. I had been away and it had been a long day. But Cori made dinner, cleaned up the house, and kept the kids blissfully happy. Then after the children were in bed, we made pages of lists. To do's, menus, shopping lists... so excited for the holidays.

halloween 2011

Maybe someday, I will produce the Halloween costume lineup that my kids request. The master plan this year was to feature Grant as Peter Pan, Grace as Wendy, Eden as Tinkerbell, Cori as Captain Hook, and me as (drum roll please) Mr. Schmee. Well, Grant got to be Peter pan at least. Eden got to wear the lady bug stuffs that I made for Grace years ago. And Grace was particularly thrilled with this flamenco dress. My parents brought it back from Barcelona for my youngest sister some 15 years ago. When Grammie brought it with her on her last visit, we put it directly into the lineup.

Girlfriend was not happy about having her picture taken.

We enjoyed ourselves at our ward's trunk or treat.

Fortunately, I took pictures of our pumpkins the night we decorated them. The carved ones didn't make it to Halloween night before spoiling. Thank you, Phoenix.

Grace and Grant got to wear their costumes out and about a few times. Grace went to a Halloween party hosted by one of her classmates, and Grant's preschool had a party. 

Trick or treating on our block is just the best. Most of the neighborhood is decorated. Our back yard neighbors turn their garage into a spook alley. Neighbors sit out on their driveways with their buckets of candy to see all the children dressed up. 80% of them made Grant out to be a Robin Hood, an identity he was pretty happy with by the end of the night.

Other happy things we did to celebrate: watched a few movies - Hocus Pocus, The Haunted Mansion, Coraline {so weird!}, and the Nightmare Before Christmas; turned the pages of our favorite Halloween books - Walter Wick's Do You See What I See on a Stormy Stormy Night and Haunted House Haunted Mouse to name a couple; listened to a reading of Edgar Allen Poe's Berenice on SYSK (did this on my own); consumed many festive treats.